Beginners, Together!

By Karyl Morin, Director of Learning Innovation at Zeeland Christian School

“We will desire to get back to normal, yet I believe we will realize an even better normal after we learn and grow together through this.”  

We are all beginners! Each of us is learning and working in new ways and are there ever-growing pains. I am wondering why I feel tired or agitated by noon, and it helps me to name the reality that I’ve never worked this way, under these conditions, with these unknowns before. What I used to rely on to know things were going well or not is no longer there in the same way. These are times that welcome growth, and right along with it our growing pains!  

Here we are vulnerable together, as leaders, teachers, parents, and children thrust into a season of everything feeling new and uncertain. What a gift that we are still together, in community, to keep one another encouraged and supported.  

 A 4th grader, a 7th grader, a parent, and a teacher are vulnerable together as they each adapt to a new schedule and approach for learning.

A 4th grader, an 8th grader and teachers are vulnerable together as they each stay connected through new technologies (SeeSaw, Google Classroom, and ZOOM). 

What competencies are we all developing more so now than just a few weeks ago? It’s so easy to focus on what isn’t there but I challenge each of us to seek out a different vantage point to see what each of us is learning during this most unusual time. Dare I even say we will never be the same after this because change brings growth, and growth brings change! We will desire to get back to normal, yet I believe we will realize an even better normal after we learn and grow together through this.  

Through a swift pivot to distance learning, ZCS students are developing life-long competencies:  

Isn’t it remarkable that we are building confidence that we can do hard things, together! When circumstances change, we continue to rely on the author and perfecter of our Faith and our journey continues. 

I’ve been praying for a childlike heart of simple faith during this new season. I’d love to leave you with a prayer that was taught to our teachers through our Opportunity Thrive teacher resilience workshops led by Rebekah Schipper this fall on self-compassion. It has really stuck with me, repeating it most days, and has helped me look for the good and steer clear of ruminating on fear or negativity.  

May you be well today. 

May you experience the peace of Christ today.  

May you feel joy today.  

May you have clarity of mind today.  

May you be well today. 

Zeeland Christian School is a threeschool – 8th-grade Christian school in Zeeland, MI. ZCS offers a non-traditional English program, the only 100% Christian Mandarin Immersion program in the Midwest(4yr olds-8th grade), the largest and most established Christian Spanish Immersion program in Michigan (3yr old-8th grade) and a School/Home Collaborative.

Along with a diversity of program offerings, we are blessed with a diverse staff with 12 different countries of origin represented amongst our faculty.

The culture of Zeeland Christian may be most impacted though by the second oldest Inclusion program in North America. Every child is celebrated for their unique abilities and loved as a child of God.

For more information or if you are curious about enrolling your child at ZCS, please email Nakisha at ndejong@zcs.org or visit www.zcs.org.